Jig



JIG

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1959 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS M 29 1952 M. s. QUESENBERRY, JR 3 036 09 JIG Filed May 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [I]. fiwsamjqg .11:

ATTORNEYS I atent BfiBfifiii Patented May 29, 1962 Milford S. Quesenberry, J12, 2118 Procter SL, Big Stone Gap, Va. Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,451 4 Claims. (til. 144-288) This invention relates to jigs for use in prefabricating building structures and component parts of such structures.

The erection of prefabricated houses and buildings has shown tremendous growth in recent years. The buildings are usually designed to utilize more or less standard forms in different arrangements. This permits the manufacture of the component parts of the buildings at a factory in quantity, and the prefabricated units are shipped wherever desired for erection in predetermined locations. While the savings in labor costs by this method far exceeds the transportation charges, and results in a cheaper overall building cost, transportation costs are a major item. By designing buildings to utilize standard panel shapes constructed to predetermined modular scales, most of the panel work can be done on the spot through the use of standardized jigs or pre-cut patterns. Such modular construction hampers design, and the cost of patterns is too great to prove economically feasible, unless structural elements according to each pattern are to be made in quantity.

All of these prior practices depend upon quantity production, or upon designing according to a pre-conceived master plan utilizing standard components or modular dimensioning.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means whereby panels of any required varying widths may be set up and constructed accurately to erect buildings according to any given plan, whether or not that plan was devised with prefabrication methods of construction in mind.

A more specific object is to provide a jig which can be set up according to information obtained from building plans to accommodate the structural elements necessary to fabricate appropriate panels from which a building according to the plan may be constructed.

Another object is the provision of a jig which is so designed that it can be set up according to known information very quickly and without need for tools, so that it may be converted from one arrangement to another in a matter of minutes.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the material-holding elements to be positioned at designated places on the jig bed are chosen with reference to a color code, each color indicating an element width or the combined width of several abutting elements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a jig having a predetermined datum in relation to which all positioning of the 1naterial-holding elements is determined.

Yet a further object is the provision of jig equipment in which the supports for positioning the several materialliolding elements are centered with respect to the elements to facilitate positioning.

It is an object to provide a jig in which all material, irrespective of warp or twist, is held straight and true while being nailed.

A further object is the provision of a jig of the above type which is small to permit operation by one or two men.

It is also an object to provide a jig which will serve as a work table when not used as a jig.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a jig constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, parts being broken away to show internal structure;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the jig in detail and filled material-holding brackets, or chairs, in operative position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the materialsupporting chairs shown with material in place therein; and

FIGURE 7 is an end view of another material supporting chair.

In any prefabrication system layout work must be done on paper, or on a work table. Information must be taken from the prepared plans, calculated, and various positions actually determined. If the work is to be accurately done, the layout should be done on paper and thoroughly checked. The information so obtained is transferred to a work table and parts fabricated.

It is contemplated that the system to be used with the present invention will transpose all wall, both exterior and partition, measurements into inches, and locate all structural elements, studs, window frames, door frames, etc. by their distance in inches from one wall corner. All measurements will be made to stud, etc. centers for a reason which will be made clear. This will locate the center lines of all vertical structural members. The walls will be divided into convenient component parts of various widths of common panels, door panels and window panels which may be fabricated as panels. Calculations for studs, window poistions, materials required, etc. for each panel will be made and the results noted. Measurements, in inches to structural element centers will be set out, as will be the sizes of materials, and information as to elements, such as single stud, double stud, triple stud, partition T, etc. It is proposed to indicated the type element by a color code, one color being assigned to each of the elements used, six being required for conventional house construction.

When the above information has been compiled, it can be utilized by a carpenter to construct the various panels and wall components needed to erect the building.

The present invention concerns generally, a jig to which the above information may be transferred to facilitate the task of constructing the several panels.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the jig is constructed as a table 1 which may be laid upon saw horses 2, or set upon appropriate legs, to support the table top at a convenient working level. The table consists of a base assembly 3 and a jig assembly 4, with the jig assembly being laid upon, and fixed to the base assembly.

The base is made of one or more sheets of plywood, or other suitable material, 5 laid one on top of the other, and secured to an underlying perimetric frame 6. This forms a strong and rigid support for the jig assembly.

In order to provide and maintain a truly square jig, and one that will withstand rugged use, the jib assembly is constructed upon a welded steel frame 7. The frame includes flat steel strips 8 which extend along the longitudinal edges of the table. These are bridged at the ends by channels 9 which lie along the side edges of the table. Part 9 may be angle iron of appropriate size. It will be evident that the channels 9 may be as long as desired, and additional strips 8, intermediate the ones shown, may be used if required. The channels overlie the ends of strips 8 and are welded to them. To complete the skeleton frame, a plurality of drilled templates 10 are positioned spanning the strips 8, and parallel to the channels and to each other. The templates are preferably spaced equidistant from one another. Aiongside each template there is a scale strip 11, marked off in inches, as at 12. The scales also are secured to the strips 8 and may be fixed to the templates it), or a part of them, if desired.

The welded frame described above is fastened securely in place on the sub-frame by means of bolts 13, which pass through the channels 9 and strips 8, and through subjacent parts of the base frame. The spaces etWeen the several members of the welded jig frame are filled by plywood panels 14 to provide a work table surface. The panels 14 are of sufilcient thickness to position their top surfaces an appreciable distance above the tops of the templates 10, but below the tops of the upstanding flanges of the channels 9. By having the templates recessed below the table top, material supporting chairs (to be described) may be positioned upon upon the templates and the material being worked may be seated in the chairs yet rest flush upon the table top for stability.

It will be noted from FIGURES 1 and 3 that all of scales 12 have their zero markings a fixed, similar distance from one long edge of the table. This establishes a Zero line, or datum, which forms a link between the layout sheets and the jig, and the starting point for determining all material positions on the jig. This line is shown at 15. Stops 16 are fastened to the channels 9 with one edge at the zero line. The stops will form abutments to position the members forming the plates of the panels to be constructed. Additional stops 17 may be used if desired, but are not necessary to the successful operation of the jig. tops 17 lie intermediate stops 16 and have their material-abutting edges spaced below the datum line 15 a distance equal to one-half the thickness of the material forming the end stud of a panel. The stops 17 will hold the stud ends in position when the plates are to terminate centrally of the studs, as will be described. All stops are mounted so as to be removable.

The templates 10 are drilled so as to provide holes 18 spaced one-quarter inch apart substantially the full length of the templates. In order to obtain this relatively close spacing with holes of large diameter, the holes are arranged in rows. The holes in each row are spaced on one inch centers, and the holes of adjacent rows are staggered one-quarter inch relative to the holes of adjacent rows. The scales 12 will indicate the distances of the holes from the hole located at the zero line. As shown, the templates may have holes located on the opposite side of the Zero datum so that panels of unusual size or shape may be constructed.

Material-receiving chairs 22 are provided for use with the templates to locate the several frame elements of a panel to be constructed. It is contemplated that chairs of several widths will be furnished to set up different elements such as single stud, double stud, triple stud, flat stud, and partition Ts in two different sizes. These six sizes are adequate for normal house construction. FIGURE illustrates a single stud chair 19. FIGURE 6 a partition T chair 20, and FIGURE 7 a double stud chair 21. The construction of all of the chairs is identical, only the width varies. A color code is to be provided whereby a given color will represent a chair for a given purpose. These colors can be indicated on the layout and the different chairs will be colored accordingly.

The chairs are formed of flat base strips 23 of desired length, to which are welded angle brackets 24. The brackets 24 are separated the proper distance to embrace the particular structural element to be received by the chair. A mounting stud 25'is secured beneath the base strip to form a positioning prong for the chair. It is important that the stud be centered beneath the seat formed on the chair so that the centerline of material placed in the chair will coincide with the center of the template hole in which the stud is placed. This permits layout from a fixed point to the centers of structural members and assurance that the material placed upon the jig Will have this relationship.

It is to be noted that the area or" the strips 8 located beneath the templates are drilled to match the templates so that the studs on the chairs may be made longer enough to pass completely through the templates for maximum stability. The holes 26 in strips 8 are shown larger. than the template holes so that there will be no chance of engaging the studs.

In using the jig, information previously calculated and set up on the layout sheets is employed to ascertain the position of the chairs which will be used. The zero point of the layout will he considered as the zero datum of the jig. In making a wall panel, the top and bottom plates will be laid adjacent the channels Q, which are spaced apart the normal wall height. One such plate 27 is shown in position in FIGURE 3, with its end abutting the stop 16. This positions the end of the plate at the zero datum. If the end stud is to form a connector between adjacent panels and, therefore, receive the ends of adjacent plates, the chairs to support the stud will be fixed on the jig with their mounting prongs inserted in the zero hole of the several templates. The type of chair to be used will be indicated by color on the layout. The end stud is usually a single 2 x 4 and, therefore, a single stud chair will be indicated. The positioning of the chairs at the zero line will place the centerline of the end stud 28 on this line, and the end of plate 27 will be at the center of the stud. The several chairs will be in alignment, and will hold the stud straight and true, even though a warped or bent piece of lumber was inserted in them. The other chairs, for other members, will be set in position according to instructions on the layout sheets as to their distances from the zero line. When all members are in place, they can be nailed together. Due to the ruggedness of construction of the jig and the rigidity of the held members, heavy hammers may be used to speed the job. If an exterior panel is being made, the sheathing may be fastened in place while the frame is on the jig. It will be obvious that if the end stud of the frame is to be flush with the plate end, the stud-holding chairs will be placed in holes offset from the zero holes distances equal to one-half the stud thickness.

If more than one panel is to be constructed having the same dimensions and element positions, they are made while the jig is set up. When other panels are to be constructed, it takes but a few minutes to relocate the chairs according to new layout sheets. Thus, the set up can be done accurately, quickly, and without tools.

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the precise details of construction shown and described are merely by way of illustration and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A jig for use in prefabricating building units from layout data pro-calculated from building plans comprising, a work table, a plurality of templates parallel to one a11- other and spaced apart along the work table, the templates being identically drilled to provide in each a plurality of holes spaced apart longitudinally of the template known distances in accordance with a predetermined scale, each template having one hole of the plurality a predetermined distance from one edge of the table to provide a datum to represent a zero position on the layout data, and a plurality of material-receiving chairs each having an upwardly opening seat to receive at least one length of building material and a downwardly projecting stud engageable in the openings of the templates, the studs of the chairs being located centrally beneath the seats whereby upon insertion of the stud in a template opening and seating of the matetrial in the chair the centerline of the material Will be located centrally of the selected template hole, the templates being recessed below the table top a distance at least as great as the thickness of the chairs to the bottoms of the seats therein and the chairs being narrower than the recessed templates to seat therein so that material in the chair may lie fiat upon the table.

2. A jig as claimed in claim 1 wherein, stops are provided adjacent the ends of the table having materialabutting edges aligned with the zero datum of the templates to serve as positioning members for the ends of top and bottom plates of panel frames to be constructed on the jig.

3. A jig for use in prefabricating building units from layout data pre-calculated from building plans comprising, a welded frame including end channel members, a plurality of templates parallel to one another and the channels and spaced apart, and tie strips bridging the ends of channels and templates to secure them together and to complete the frame, filler panels closing the spaces between the members of the frame to form a work table, the templates being identically drilled to provide in each a plurality of holes spaced apart longitudinally of the template known distances in accordance with a predetermined scale, each template having one hole of the plurality a predetermined distance from one edge of the table to provide a datum to represent a zero position on the layout data, and a plurality of material receiving chairs each having an upwardly opening seat to receive at least one length of building material and a downwardly projecting stud engageable in the openings of the templates, the studs of the chairs being located centrally beneath the seats whereby upon insertion of the stud in a template opening and seating of the material in the chair the centerline of the material will be located centrally of the selected template hole, the templates being recessed below the table top a distance at least as great as the thickness of the chairs to the bottoms of the seats therein and the chairs being narrower than the recessed templates to seat therein so that material in the chair may lie fiat upon the table.

4. A jig as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the channels project above the templates and filler panels to provide raised abutments along the side edges of the table along which top and bottom plates of wall panel frames to be constructed on the table may be aligned, and stops attached to the channels having material-abutting edges aligned with the zero datum of the templates to serve as positioning members for the ends of plates aligned along the channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,608 Gilmour Apr. 15, 1924 1,766,230 Sea -2 June 24, 1930 2,212,421 Henderson Aug. 20, 1940 2,305,124 Wilson et al Dec. 15, 1942 2,427,133 Grabner Sept. 9, 1947 2,662,565 Le Vay Dec. 15, 1953 2,680,458 Grammar June 8, 1954 2,749,873 Huffman June 12, 1956 2,958,351 Deamer et al Nov. 1, 1960 

